A psychiatric nurse practitioner and clinician for 30 years, Abbie Rosenberg of Hopkinton responded to the mental health struggles she saw around her by founding the Mental Health Collaborative in 2019.

When Hopkinton resident Abbie Rosenberg, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and clinician for 30 years, noticed the many young people and families around her struggling with mental health issues in silence, she decided to act.

In 2019, she founded Mental Health Collaborative (MHC) with the simple but powerful goal: to ensure everyone, especially youth and those who support them, have the knowledge, language and tools to care for their mental health and to recognize when and how to seek help.

“Stigma and lack of education keep too many people from getting help early,” Rosenberg said. “If we can teach mental health literacy the same way we teach physical literacy, we can prevent crises and save lives.”

What began as a local effort has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit. MHC’s evidence-based programs for students, educators, parents, workplaces and communities promote understanding and equip people with the tools to thrive.

“We envision a world where mental well-being is proactively prioritized, where it is understood, valued and treated with the same urgency, dignity and care as physical health. No stigma, no silence,” said Rosenberg.

While MHC is found in 16 states, Hopkinton remains at the heart of its work. MHC began by conducting a needs assessment in the community and then collaborating with Hopkinton Public Schools, starting its Mental Health Essentials programs for students, educators, parents, caregivers and coaches.

Today, Hopkinton leads the way in bringing prevention-focused, sustainable mental health literacy programs into its schools and community. Through the student curricula, middle and high school students learn about mental health as part of the district’s overall health program. Students learn how to identify signs of struggle in themselves or others, as well as where to find support. Educators, parents, caregivers, community members and coaches receive specialized training to help students respond to mental health needs and to take action when someone requires help.

MHC’s Hopkinton data shows significant increases in mental health knowledge, confidence and help-seeking behavior. Rosenberg shared a story highlighting the life-changing and often life-saving impact of prevention-focused mental health education. A student who completed MHC’s Mental Health Essentials Beyond High School program shared that they struggled with anxiety and loneliness, not knowing what it was called or where to get help. After completing the program, the student understood mental health challenges are not weaknesses; rather, seeking help shows strength. “These lessons changed my life,” the student wrote.

“Hopkinton has always been a town that values education, wellness and caring for one another,” Rosenberg said. “By supporting mental health education, we are giving our youth and those who support them the foundation they need to thrive.”

As the community heads into the season of giving, residents can help MHC continue its impact in the town where it started while expanding access to other schools and communities that need it most. Rosenberg noted donations will help bring MHC programs to more individuals, ensuring many people have access to the same life-changing education that began in Hopkinton.

Mental Health Collaborative will kick off its annual campaign on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2. A donor will match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000 on that day. Anyone interested in donating can visit MentalHealthCollaborative.org/donate.

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Editor’s note: In the spirit of the giving season and Hopkinton organizations supporting each other, Phipps Insurance donated its business profile to the nonprofit Mental Health Collaborative.